January 29, 2015: one year

 I had my one year visit with Dr Nakamura on Tuesday and he pronounced everything " great". Never mind that I am on blood thinners for a clot in my leg! Details. But I feel really good and extraordinarily grateful and fortunate to be here. I have said it before but honestly it really does take a village. I would not be here were it not for the extraordinary care and love of my family, friends, doctors and various nurses and medical people.  Thank you all. We will have a big celebration in May or June when we can gather around the pool in Forestville. In the meantime, I would like you all to send good healing thoughts to my niece Sheila who,at age 39, is undergoing chemo for breast cancer. Xxo

Dr Nakamura and I on January 27 ( before my bone marrow biopsy!)

Frank and Síle in NYC  Jan 2015

Nóra and Ainaté Dec 2014

The granddads and Úna  Mexico Dec 2014

Úna enjoying  the beach Mexico Dec 2014

Eoin enjoying watching Úna enjoying the beach!

A banner class

This post has nothing to so with my transplant except that it is a testament to how well I feel that I am back in organizing/crafting mode!

Banner class

Yes. A banner class as in making banners but the other meaning would totally work too.

I casually mentioned to Carrie V, who  has really got into paper crafts, that it would be fun to have a paper something class. I kind of thought vaguely sometime in the future but our girl Carrie got right on it and lo and behold the class was created!  Not too far in the future but on December 14. Yea for Carrie!  

Details

Who

Taught by the fantastic Carrie Vermazen. Anyone can join. No prior knowledge needed. 

What

 

A wonderfully whimsical paper banner that you can use year round for all manner of celebrations

When

Sunday, December 14 from 1:30 to 4:30 ( you might be speedy and finish earlier)

Where

TBD depending on how many of you want to join the banner bonanza. ( Of course we will let you know)

Materials

The kit is provided and comes with everything you need to make the banner. It also has all kinds of fun pieces for you to make cards, invitations, goodie bags etc at home.  Carrie has an extensive "library" of ribbons, stamps and other fun stuff which she will bring so you can add some craziness to your creation. Sile will provide shortbread.

Cost

$20. If you let us know by 10pm tonight ( Dec 2nd). I know. Not much time but we only realised that the kit sale ends tonight.

$25 until December 7

Fee will be collected in class. 

RSVP 

Leave a comment below or email knitoneone@gmail.com

We look forward to seeing you! Xxo

Thankful.

On thanksgiving day last year my body was definitely starting to give out. And I was kind of counting the days to the transplant.

Fast forward to today. I feel great. Sure I have a few bad gashes on my legs ( healing). I get tired easily. I often can't sleep well ( damn steroids). But I am so grateful to feel healthy, normal, and full of optimism and brio. For this I am thankful for terrific medical care, a perfectly matched donor, and an amazingly wonderful family and group of friends. 

It isn't as if in the past I was churlish and ungrateful. At least I don't think I was. But there is nothing like facing death to make you feel really truly grateful. Amazingly there was only one time that I thought I wasn't going to make it. I was lying in my bed at City of Hope drifiting in and out of consciousness and  thought " I wonder of I am going to pull through". Immediately another voice popped in and said  "Don't be ridiculous. You have worked way too hard to give up now"! 

So a huge thank you to you all for the care, love and concern you have shown me in the past three years. I wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving and feel truly blessed to have you in my life. Xxo

Úna in playground wearing her Aran geansy from Auntie Janet

Nora and Úna early in the morning

Eoin w/ Úna on her first birthday

At Jutta and Greg's wedding

9 months/marathon visit to the City of Hope

It has been 9 months to the day since the transplant so it seems like an appropriate day for an update.

Jim and I spent the day yesterday at the City of Hope. It was grueling I have to say mainly because I had to roll out of bed at 4:30 am. The ridiculously early start was because I had 4 appointments at the City of Hope. 

 You see a month ago I bumped into a curtain rod and because the " integrity of my skin" ( medical talk) is lousy, I ended up with 4 fairly significant gashes on my legs. Any normal person might have got a bruise. And the curtain rod? Well I was sewing curtains and had taken the rod down to do some measuring. One of the wounds is big enough that there was talk of doing a skin graft. So not only was I seeing the by now famous Dr Nakamura but also had to add in the skin graft specialist, the dermatologist, and the gastro guy. But.....the good news is. All my counts are " excellent". And all of the aforementioned specialists agreed that for " for now" a skin graft is not necessary. In the meantime, I dress the wounds every day ( takes about 45 minutes) and see Wanda, a wound specialist, once a week. This in addition to my usual round of blood tests and Cecchi visits. Now you know why I am so busy.

The bad news: I was told because of my leg bandages --- which start on my feet--- I should wear crocs. Crocs! 

In other news. Úna turns one on November 4 th. Gershwin is a big hit with her and is very patient when she clambers all over him. In fact he enjoys her attention unlike other dogs we could mention ( Are you listening Lola?) And I launched my tutoring service last week, English Over Easy.  Pop over and look at the site. I did it myself with lots of help from our resident expert, Jim! And of course if you have friends who could use a little English Over Easy help, send them my way.

As always, a huge thank you to all of you who continue to help me in ways big and small. To call this process a journey is an understatement. A huge understatement. And I appreciate the fact that you all continue to " heave to" to support me. Xxo

Úna and Gershwin

Jutta and Greg at their City Hall wedding

Wedding and hair fun! 

Nóra and Úna wish me luck at City of Hope

Today is my birthday birthday....

And I feel very lucky to be here. Not only to be alive but also to feel so good. My friend Jane C commented that I was looking hardy which she said was a compliment. And.... I certainly took it as one! Dr Cecchi keeps saying " You are doing great" and who am I to argue with the man himself. I return to the City of Hope at the end of October. In the meantime Dr Nakamura and I keep in touch via phone and email. He has stopped on of my anti rejection drugs and I am doing fine. Alas I  am still on the "damn steroids"  albeit a small daily dose

I am currently building a web site for my English Language tutoring business, English Over Easy, and it feels very exhilarating to be exercising my brain in such a fashion. Thanks to the brilliant Nancy F of Wordworking for the great name. She also suggested Grammar Grandma which I also love. Will let you all know when I launch the site. Jim has been helping and it is fun to work on it together. 

Today I am speniding time with family, friends and the new dog, Gershwin! He is a poodle terrier mix, and is a wonderful mix of goofiness and calmness. ( 2 years old). He was dumped at the Sacramento shelter, picked up by NorCal poodle rescue and adopted from them by me. He is great fun.

On Thursday Nóra and I will go to SF to see her stylist, Jessica Rose, who is gong to color my hair -- current thinking is pink but will let you know. Thank you Nora for this birthday treat.

And in Úna news. She is starting to take steps. Yes. Steps. A few at a time but pretty soon she will be marching hither and yon.

As always I am so aware that I am alive and healthy because of all of you. And honestly a day does not go by that I don't think of you and thank you. 

Úna with her new best friend!

The images below are now framed and in my hallway. I smile every time I pass by.

Meant to take another photo of him last week but I forgot. The famous Dr Cecchi withLiz M

With dr. Nakamura. And I now have hair. Curly hair!